1. Cleveland: Sam Darnold, QB, USC. OK, Browns, it's time to stop messing around and draft a franchise quarterback. Darnold doesn't turn 21 until June and there's no need to rush him. The team also should add a quality veteran and groom the rookie on the sideline for a season. Tom Pennington, Getty Images

3. Indianapolis: Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State. The Colts finished 31st in sacks last season, while the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Chubb recorded double-digits each of the past two years. Grant Halverson, Getty Images

5. Denver: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma. The Broncos have tried to patchwork the quarterback position with Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch, but the Heisman Trophy winner could be the answer to getting the Broncos' offense back on track. Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images

6. N.Y. Jets: Connor Williams, OT, Texas. The Jets could use a quarterback, but with the top options off the board, they move to the next logical spot and build up the team's offensive line. Left tackle Kelvin Beachum is average, at best, and in the final year of his contract. Brian Bahr, Getty Images

7. Tampa Bay: Arden Key, DE, LSU. The Bucs finished last in the NFL in sacks and quarterback pressure. Key's production doesn't match his physical gifts, but Tampa can't afford to pass up on the talent. Chris Graythen, Getty Images

9. San Francisco: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame. The 49ers scored a franchise quarterback by trading for Jimmy Garoppolo. Now they need to focus on protecting that investment. Nelson is widely considered the draft's best offensive lineman. Joe Robbins, Getty Images

10. Oakland: Vita Vea, DT, Washington. An athletic 340-pound interior lineman who can stop the run and occasionally disrupt the pocket, Vea could help just about any roster. Otto Greule Jr., Getty Images

12. Cincinnati: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma. The Bengals could use multiple upgrades with their blocking and plugging the 345-pound Brown in at right tackle would be a solid start. Ronald Martinez, Getty Images

13. Washington: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama. With the Kirk Cousins' status up in the air, quarterback is certainly a possibility. But if they can find a way to keep Cousins, wide receiver makes sense. The Terrelle Pryor experiment bombed last season. Jamie Squire, Getty Images

14. Green Bay: Derwin James, S, Florida State. When healthy, James is a big, physical, play-making safety. He missed most of the 2016 season, but largely returned to form in 2017. He would be a plug-and-play replacement if Morgan Burnett leaves in free agency. Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

15. Arizona: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming. Allen is a polarizing prospect who had a dismal junior season when surrounded by subpar talent. Some NFL decision-makers are going to fall in love with the tools, but whoever drafts him must have a good developmental plan in place. Otto Kitsinger, Associated Press

16. Baltimore: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU. Jeremy Maclin was a disappointment, Breshad Perriman has been a bust and Mike Wallace, at 32, isn’t the vertical threat he once was. It's time for the Ravens to revamp the receiving corps, starting with the big-bodied Sutton. Mike Stone, Associated Press

17. L.A. Chargers: Mike McGlinchey, OL, Notre Dame. The Chargers top two offensive tackles are under contract for two more years, but neither has a lock on their jobs. Right tackle Joe Barksdale hypothetically could slide inside to guard, with McGlinchey bolstering the overall quality of the unit. Tony Avelar, Associated Press

18. Seattle: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa. Richard Sherman will be coming back from a ruptured Achilles at the age of 30. He'll also be entering the final year of his contract. Jackson (right) is a ball-hawking, playmaking corner who can be the long-term solution for Seattle. Dale G. Young, Detroit News

19. Dallas: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State. Dallas can add another piece to its young, talented secondary with Ward. His presence should help a group that allowed 66.4 percent of passes to be completed against them in 2017, while only coming up with 10 interceptions. Jay LaPrete, Associated Press

20. Detroit: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA. The Lions need all kinds of help up front, especially if Ziggy Ansah isn't retained. Davenport (93) is a long, athletic edge defender who was highly productive rushing the passer last season. The competition jump is significant, but the ceiling is high. Sam Craft, Associated Press

21. Buffalo. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan. Hurst has the potential to climb up boards if he measures well at the combine, and is another realistic option for the Lions at No. 20. He's currently a bit undersized, but he's an explosive interior lineman who can wreak havoc on backfields. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

23. L.A. Rams: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech. An athletic, well-built linebacker who shouldn’t have to leave the field, Edmunds would give the Rams a cheaper replacement for Mark Barron, who has a $10 million cap hit in 2018. Don Petersen, Associated Press

24. Carolina: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M. The Panthers surprised many by trading Kelvin Benjamin at the deadline, leaving them with a void on the outside. Kirk’s quickness in the open field can be a nice complement to Devin Funchess running deep and Christian McCaffrey working underneath. Chuck Burton, Associated Press

25. Tennessee: Harold Landry, DE, Boston College. The Titans' pass rush rolls deep. Despite linebacker Derrick Morgan leading the team with just 7.5 sacks, the team finished top-five. Still, you can never have enough pass rushers, and the speedy, explosive Landry would further solidify the group. Tim Bradbury, Getty Images

26. Altanta: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama. Arguably no one bolstered their stock more during bowl season than Payne, with a pair of dominant outings in the playoffs. The technically sound interior lineman would pair nice with Grady Jarrett, giving the Falcons an explosive tandem. Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

28. Pittsburgh: Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State. Ben Roethlisberger is saying he wants to play another three years, but flirted with retirement last offseason and might lose some motivation with offensive coordinator Todd Haley on the way out. Rudolph can be groomed as a successor. John Raoux, Associated Press

29. Jacksonville: Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State. The Jaguars offense looks potent at times, but quarterback Blake Bortles could use some more reliable weapons in the passing game. Goedert is an athletic matchup piece who has been compared to Philadelphia's Zach Ertz. Daryl Wilson, Associated Press

30. Minnesota: Billy Price, OL, Ohio State. The Vikings offensive line was much improved in 2017, but there's still room to upgrade the unit. The team struck gold with an Ohio State lineman last year, snagging Pat Elflein in the third round. It wouldn't hurt the team to go back to that well. Price, at 315 pounds, can play center or guard. Michael Conroy, Associated Press

31. Philadelphia: Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State. Jason Peters is under contract for two more years after signing a one-year extension in June. Then he tore his ACL. The nine-time Pro Bowler turns 36 this month and it would be wise for the Eagles to have a backup plan given the franchise’s Super Bowl aspirations. Michael Woods, Associated Press

32. New England: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU. Leave it to New England to find outstanding value at the end of the round. With three running backs set to hit free agency, including Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis, Guice will give Tom Brady something he hasn't had the past decade, the support of a premier runner. Wesley Hitt, Getty Images

Go through the gallery to see Justin Rogers’ NFL mock draft 1.0. Click here if you have trouble viewing the gallery.

Mock drafts are an inexact science. But, for the average fan who hasn’t bothered to keep up to date with the latest and greatest college talent, they serve a purpose.

With the college All-Star game circuit already underway, highlighted by the Senior Bowl next weekend, and the scouting combine six weeks down the road, consider this a formal introduction to the incoming class of NFL players.

The Detroit Lions hold the No. 20 pick this year — a spot that has netted offensive tackle Garett Bolles, linebacker Darron Lee, wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Brandin Cooks and guard Kyle Long the past five drafts.

And while things will come into focus as the offseason progresses and teams plug roster holes via free agency, here’s an ultra-early projection for how the first round could shake out based on current needs.

The final draft order is not set. The four teams still in the playoffs are currently listed by their records.